A good moving checklist for Sweden starts earlier than most people expect: three months out if you rent, because notice on a Swedish rental is usually three calendar months. Here is the full timeline, from giving notice to your first week in the new home.
The timeline at a glance
| When | The essentials |
|---|---|
| 3 months before | Give notice on the rental, start house-hunting |
| 6–4 weeks before | Book movers and move-out cleaning, order boxes |
| 2 weeks before | File flyttanmälan with Skatteverket, move utilities |
| Week before | Finish packing, defrost the freezer, confirm times |
| Moving day | Read meters, document condition, hand over keys |
| First week | Update bank and insurance, attend the inspection |
3 months before
If you rent, the notice period is normally three calendar months, counted from the end of the month after you give notice. Give notice on 5 March and the lease runs to 30 June. Check your own contract, and always give notice in writing so you have a record.
If you own an apartment (bostadsrätt) or a house you give no notice; the handover date in the sale contract governs.
6–4 weeks before
The most important stretch, and the one most often skipped.
- Book a moving company. Get several quotes and check the company has approved F-skatt, otherwise you lose the RUT deduction. See choosing a moving company.
- Book move-out cleaning for the day after the truck leaves, never the same day.
- Order moving boxes and packing materials.
- Start decluttering. Anything you sell or donate now is something you do not pack, carry or pay to move.
- Start packing what you rarely use: storage, seasonal clothes, books.
2 weeks before
- File your flyttanmälan with Skatteverket. It is free and updates your address across most authorities automatically.
- Order mail forwarding if you want it; that is a separate paid service.
- Cancel or transfer utilities: electricity, broadband, TV, alarm, parking.
- Update your home insurance with the new address.
- Book the lift or loading bay if the building requires it, and apply for a parking permit if the street needs one.
The full list is in changing your address in Sweden.
The week before
- Finish packing everything except daily essentials
- Defrost the freezer at least 24 hours ahead
- Confirm time and address with the movers
- Pack a first-day box: toilet paper, soap, towels, chargers, tools, coffee, medication and clean bedding
- Keep passports, keys, jewellery and important documents with you, not in the truck
Detailed help is in our guide on how to pack for a move.
Moving day
- Read the electricity and water meters, and photograph the reading
- Walk through the home with the movers before they start
- Photograph the empty home, with a timestamp
- Check nothing is left in storage, on the balcony or in the attic
- Hand over keys as agreed, and note how many
First week in the new home
- Attend the move-in inspection and note every defect immediately
- Photograph any pre-existing damage, or it may become your liability
- Update your address with the bank, employer, healthcare centre and any subscriptions that did not transfer automatically
- Confirm the move-out cleaning was approved by the landlord
- Report any transport damage to the movers within the deadline in the contract
When is the cheapest time to move?
Swedish demand is extremely uneven, and price follows it:
- Most expensive: month-end, especially the 30th and 31st, and May to August
- Cheapest: mid-month, Tuesday to Thursday, and October to March
If you can choose the date, that is the single biggest saving available, often larger than the difference between two companies' hourly rates. See what moving costs.
Storage between homes
If your dates do not line up you may need storage. Note that storage does not qualify for RUT, only the moving labour does. Also expect your belongings to be loaded and unloaded twice more, which costs money and raises the risk of damage.
What is not coming with you
Sell or donate well in advance. Whatever is left goes to a recycling centre (återvinningscentral). Hazardous waste such as paint, solvents and batteries must never go in the truck, and most companies refuse to carry it.
Movers often sell disposal as an add-on, but that part is transport and does not qualify for RUT.
Common questions
When should I start planning a move in Sweden?
Three months out if you rent, because notice is usually three calendar months. Four to six weeks if you have already given notice.
What notice period applies to a Swedish rental?
Usually three calendar months from the end of the month after you give notice. Always check your own contract.
When is the cheapest time to move in Sweden?
Mid-month and mid-week. Avoid month-end and the May to August peak.
How far ahead should I book a moving company?
Four to six weeks, earlier for a summer month-end date.
Do I need storage between homes?
Only if the dates do not line up. Storage does not qualify for RUT.
What do I do with furniture that will not fit?
Sell or donate in good time, and take the rest to a recycling centre. Disposal via the movers does not qualify for RUT.
Related guides: changing your address in Sweden, what moving costs and how to pack for a move. Back to moving in Stockholm.